SF Giants: Three Potential Left-Handed Pitching Targets

Three Left-Handed Pitching Targets for the SF Giants
2. Mike Minor

Similar to Hill, Mike Minor found his footing as a pitcher later in his career. After not appearing on a big-league mound in 2015 and 2016, the left-handed hurler reemerged with the Kansas City Royals in 2017.

In that season, he registered a 2.55 ERA (2.62 FIP) in 77.2 innings while pitching exclusively out of the bullpen. He rolled this strong campaign into a three-year, $28 million pact with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers immediately placed him back in the rotation. During that contract, Minor posted a respectable 4.07 ERA (4.37 FIP) with a 22.6 percent strikeout rate across 422 innings. He finished out the contract with the Oakland Athletics as he was acquired from the Rangers before the 2020 trade deadline.

Despite these solid numbers, the 32-year-old struggled in 2020. Across 56.2 innings, Minor posted a 5.56 ERA (4.64 FIP) with a 26 percent strikeout rate.

Teams may be willing to overlook his rough surface-level stats given that he was still able to rack up strikeouts at such a high rate. Furthermore, the 1.12-point difference between his ERA and FIP may suggest some bad luck as well.

The lefty’s repertoire includes a fastball that sits in the low-90’s with a slider, curveball, and changeup. The curveball and changeup grade out as above-average pitchers, so an increase in usage for both pitches could result in better numbers in 2021.

The Giants need innings in a 2021 rotation that has few reliable arms outside of Kevin Gausman. Minor has proven that he can still soak up some innings, so he does make a lot of sense for the Giants.

On top of his, Minor may be in the market for a one-year, pillow contract after a rough season in 2020. The Giants have been stingy with free-agent spending in recent seasons, but they have had no problem handing out pillow contracts to pitchers looking to reestablish value.

Three Left-Handed Pitching Targets for the SF Giants
3. Jose Quintana

In his nine-year career, Jose Quintana has never pitched in a home ballpark outside of Chicago. The left-handed hurler is a free agent for the first time in his career and might be in the market for a one-year, pillow deal.

Quintana was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Chicago Cubs before the 2017 trade deadline in a blockbuster move that netted the White Sox prized outfielder Eloy Jimenez.

Quintana proved to be a serviceable arm with a 4.24 ERA with the Cubs, but similar to when the Giants traded for Matt Moore in 2016, this is likely one move they wish they could take back.

Since he debuted way back in 2012, Quintana has registered an 83-77 record with a 3.73 ERA (3.64 FIP) and a 21 percent strikeout rate against a 6.8 percent walk rate.

If you are a believer in FIP, then you may see Quintana as a hidden gem. His ERA has frequently underperformed his FIP, so a change of scenery could be exactly what the veteran southpaw needs.

Quintana missed much of the 2020 season after battling a pair of unrelated injuries, but when he was healthy, he generated a 4.50 ERA in just ten innings of work.

There is not much information evaluators can take away from Quintana’s 2020 season given that it was such a small body of work.

That said, Quintana has proven to be a consistent and durable arm throughout his career, and the market will see him as this. Regardless, he has registered a 4.28 ERA since the start of 2017, so that is the type of pitcher you would be getting.

Similar to Mike Minor, the SF Giants need more depth and arms who can soak up innings. Quintana has proven to be an innings-eater in his career, and will likely fall within the Giants comfort level of spending.

After spending so many years in Chicago, a change to the pitcher-friendly confines of Oracle Park may be exactly what the left-handed hurler needs.